For many businesses across the Island, both large and small, legal issues related to staff can cause significant problems and take up a great deal of management time, particularly if managers are unfamiliar with the relevant area of law.
From November, Walkers formally launches its dedicated Employment Group here in Cayman, which is ready to advise both employers and employees as to their position on issues related to the full life cycle of employee relations. These problems include the impact of corporate restructurings on employees and immigration issues, as well as drafting employment contracts and employee handbooks. The group can also advise on dealing with any disciplinary matters and complaints by employees. Legal advice on employment issues can prove to be very useful when firms are parting company with workers, while it can be essential to seek counsel when Labour Tribunal disputes arise.
“Over the past year, perhaps unsurprisingly, we have assisted numerous clients who have been looking to restructure their workforces due to economic circumstances,” said Diarmad Murray, managing partner of Walkers’ Cayman Islands office and head of the Employment Group. “Although the situation in Cayman is not as complicated as in other jurisdictions, it is important for employers to tread carefully. Certain steps must be taken to ensure compliance with the Labour Law and related legislation and we can assist with liaising with the Department of Employment Relations where appropriate.”
Among the other areas where Walkers’ Employment Practice is anticipated to be of value to clients are both employee benefits and the important requirements under the Labour Law, the National Pensions Law and the Health Insurance Law, when employees leave a company or are transferred.
“For example, some employers do not appreciate that they are required to maintain an employee’s health insurance for three months after they leave, unless the employee commences new employment during that time, although the employer can charge the employee for this coverage,” commented Lindsay Luttermann, attorney with Walkers and a member of the Employment Group.
Walkers has already been providing employment related advice for a number of years, although the decision was taken recently to form a dedicated specialist team of attorneys to ensure clients are fully aware of the range of expertise within the firm and to increase accessibility to services. The attorneys in Walkers’ Employment Group all have in-depth experience in various aspects of Employment Law and the formalisation of this Group has taken place as Walkers responds to the changing needs of its clients in this field. With greater awareness in the corporate sector of the experience and expertise across the Walkers team, clients can benefit from increased accessibility to their own tailored Employment Law solutions.